Chapter 350 - Feeling
Four days have passed since Anne met Alan in front of the restaurant. During those four days, Anne had locked herself in the hotel room. Linda, who understood Anne's mood swings, didn't force Anne to join her in the field. She gave her best friend some time to calm down. So, for four days, Linda used Anne's camera to do her work. Although the photos she took were not as good as Anne's, but she was quite satisfied because not a day was missed.
"Anne, I'm leaving," said Linda slowly to Anne, who was sitting staring at the window from the room from a chair with her legs tightly hugged.
Hearing Linda's voice brought Anne to her senses. "I'm coming with you, wait for me Linda."
Linda shook her head. She pressed on Anne's shoulder to keep her from getting up from her chair. "You stay in the room, leave everything to me. Solve the struggle in your heart Anne. Don't worry, you can rely on Belinda Gibson."
Anne looked at Linda with sad and tired eyes. Always sleeping very early in the morning had made Anne experience obvious physical fatigue and Linda a little worried about Anne's condition. So she asked Anne to stay in the hotel room today.
"I'm sorry, I always bother you, Linda," said Anne quietly.
"Come on, what are you talking about? We should take turns, remember, Anne, we are a team. After all, this is my first time leading the operation, last semesters you were always the one to lead. So it's my turn," replied Linda excitedly.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Anne asked seriously again.
"Yeah, don't underestimate me, Anne. Well then, I'll leave now. I'm going to hunt with other friends near the church not far from the fountain that I told you about yesterday. There are lots of pedestrians and it's amazing. When you feel much better, I'll take you there, Anne. But for now, it's better for you to stay in your room, eat on time and rest. Don't touch the laptop again, you need to rest, Anne. Your body needs it," answered Linda firmly.
"Okay, I'm taking another break today. If something happens, call me, Linda," said Anne quietly.
Linda chuckled at Anne's words. Since there was a knock on the door, Linda then left the hotel room. Not long after that, in front of Anne's room, it was quiet again because all her friends had left, including Linda. Anne opened her bedroom window and waved at Linda who had just left the hotel. Her smile widened when she saw Linda was walking excitedly with her other friends down the path leaving the hotel area to continue their work.
After Linda was out of sight, Anne then went back to sit on the bed. She slowly grabbed her laptop and opened several articles she had read for the last four days. She really couldn't believe that the man she met yesterday was Alan Knight Clarke, not Jack. Whereas previously, Anne had hoped that the man was Jack, but after reading all the articles that she had downloaded, her heart was broken again. Her hopes disappeared instantly, because Anne really hoped that the man she met yesterday was Jack. The reason was that in the article on Anne's laptop screen, it was clearly described how Alan Knight Clarke's life and love story which had been reported by the media.
"You're not Jack, you really are someone else. But why does my heart tells me that you're Jack? The more I try to deny that you're Alan Knight Clarke, the greater my belief that you are Jack," said Anne softly as she fingered the photo of Alan that was posing next to his favorite Ferrari car.
"The way you talk is also very different. When Jack spoke, I could feel the warmth from his eyes, but when talking to Alan yesterday, I didn't find that warmth. What is this, God? Why am I being given a test like this again when I have given up on Jack? Why do you send a man who looks a lot like Jack into my life again, God?" Anne mumbled softly with her eyes closed as she clutched her cell phone which showed a picture of her and Jack in front of the York Minster two years ago, just after they made their vows.
Anne finally fell asleep. She fell asleep very peacefully. After convincing herself that the man she had met a few days ago was not Jack, Anne finally fell asleep. The dark circles under her eyes showed how sleep deprived and tired she was.
***
< The residence of the Clarke family >
Mr. David Clarke, who had never come to the office again due to his poor health condition, was currently sitting in the park with Luis. He read the news about Alan through his smart phone.
"Grandpa, I'm leaving!!" Alan shouted loudly as he just came down from the second floor.
"The master is in the garden, sir," said a servant politely.
With his mouth full of the apple he had just picked up from the table, Jack turned to the servant and pointed to the garden behind the house.
"No, young master, the master is with Luis in the side garden," replied the servant again in response to Alan's gesture.
"O-ok thanks Kenny," Alan said with difficulty while continued to chew the apple that was in his mouth as he stepped into the garden indicated by the waiter.
Alan's smile widened when he saw his grandfather sitting with his personal assistant enjoying a glass of his favorite unsweetened green tea.
"Morning, Grandpa," said Alan excitedly.
Mr. David Clarke turned towards the source of the voice and smiled warmly to see his beloved grandson was standing proudly in front of him.
"Sit down," he said quietly.
"I'll be late, Grandpa." Alan immediately refused firmly the grandfather's request.
"This won't take more than five minutes," said Mr. David Clarke again with a smile.
Alan couldn't help but obey to his grandfather's request. He slowly sat on the chair next to his grandfather where Luis had previously sat.
"What is it, Grandpa?" Alan asked impatiently.
With his wrinkled hands, Mr. David Clarke touched Alan's face. "I'm getting old, Alan, when are you going to give me a farewell gift?"
"Grandpa, please!!!!"
"I'm serious, you're all grown up, Alan. It's time for you to start a family, stop fooling around. I know you don't like Cassandra, but try to find another woman who roughly fits your taste, as long as she's kind and loves you, I will agree. Her family background doesn't matter, or where she comes from," said Mr. David Clarke, cutting Alan off quickly.
Alan looked deeply at his grandfather's shady face. He was sure that when his grandfather was young, he must have been very handsome. The remnants of his good looks were still clearly visible on his frail face.
"I haven't found the woman I'm looking for, Grandpa," Alan answered honestly.
"What kind of woman are you looking for? That woman with long hair, beautiful eyes with a deadly smile?" asked Mr. David Clarke quickly.
Alan grimaced so that his row of white teeth could be seen clearly when he heard his grandfather's words.
"If you really want a girl like that, I think you'll meet her soon. But when you find her, take her home and introduce her to me," said Mr. David Clarke excitedly.
"How do you know that I will meet the girl?" Alan asked in confusion
Mr. David Clarke smiled and said, "Feeling."
Continued
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